Name:
Period:
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Identifying an Unknown Metal Carbonate
Problem: You will react an unknown carbonate (X2 CO3), either Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3) or Potassium Carbonate
(K2CO3), with hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the following reaction: X2CO3(aq) + 2 HCl(aq)  2 XCl(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l). Using your
knowledge of moles and chemical reactions, you will determine the identity of the unknown carbonate (X).
Pre-lab Questions:
1) Look at the equation above for this lab. Classify this reaction.
2) The following are the two possible reactions for this lab:
Na2CO3(aq) + 2 HCl(aq)  2 NaCl(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l) or K2CO3(aq) + 2 HCl(aq)  2 KCl(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
Assume that you started with either 2 g of the Na2CO3 or 2 g of the K2CO3 are you going to get the same amount
of CO2 produced in each of these reactions? Explain why or why not.
3) Look at the coefficients for X2CO3 and CO2 in the reaction. For every one molecule of X2CO3 of reacted, how
many molecules of CO2 will be produced?
4) This ratio of coefficients is called a mole ratio. It means that if 2 moles of X2CO3 is reacted, then 2 moles of CO2
is produced. Calculate how many moles of CO2 would be produced if 0.1 moles of X2CO3 is reacted? How many
grams of CO2 is that?
5) Consider the following unknown sulfate XSO4. The mass of 1 mole of this unknown sulfate is 136g. What
element is represented by the unknown, X? Show your calculations.
Materials:
Unknown Metal Carbonate
Electronic Balance
25 mL Graduated Cylinder
3 M Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)
125 mL Erlenmeyer flask
Procedure:
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Mass the 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask and record the exact mass.
In a weighing dish, mass approximately 2 g of the unknown metal carbonate. Record the exact mass.
Transfer the unknown carbonate to the 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask.
Use a 25 mL graduated cylinder and pour in 20 mL of the 3 M HCl. Measure the combined mass of the cylinder
and the acid and record.
*”3M” is a concentration, the M does not represent the metal*
SLOWLY pour the HCl into the flask. Allow the reaction of the HCl and unknown carbonate to go to completion.
Measure and record the mass of the empty cylinder after the HCl has been added to the flask.
Once the reaction appears complete, swirl the flask to allow any further reaction to take place. (There should be
no more solid in the bottom of the flask.)
Measure the mass of the flask and its contents and record the mass.
Repeat the procedure again for a second trial.
Trial #1 Masses in g
Trial #2 Masses in g
Average Masses in g
Mass of Flask
Mass of X2CO3
Mass of Cylinder &
3M HCl
Mass of empty
graduated cylinder
Mass of flask +
reacted solution
Calculations: Use the average mass and show your work for all of the following calculations.
1) Mass of 3M HCl used as a reactant.
2) Total mass of the original reactants in the flask before the reaction. (Flask + X2CO3 sample + 3M HCl)
3) Mass of released CO2 as a product.
4) Moles of CO2 released.
5) Moles of the unknown carbonate (X2CO3) reacted.
6) Molar mass (grams of 1 mole) of X2CO3
*hint you need to use the original mass you used of the X2CO3 in the calculation in a proportion.
7) Mass of element X.
8) Which element is X?
9) Calculate your percent error using your calculation of the mass of X, compared to the actual mass on the
periodic table. (Remember: Percent Error = |Got-Shoulda|/Shoulda x 100
Processing questions:
1) To calculate the mass of 3M HCl used in the reaction you subtracted the original mass of the graduated cylinder
plus 3M HCl from the mass of the empty graduated cylinder after you dumped the 3M HCl into the flask with the
unknown carbonate. Why is this a more accurate measure of the 3M HCl used in the reaction than if you had
measured the empty graduated cylinder first and then subtracted that from the mass of the graduated cylinder
plus 3M HCl.
2) Why was the mass of the CO2 that was produced used in the calculations rather than the mass of the XCl
produced? (Remember this was the equation for this reaction: X2CO3(aq) + 2 HCl(aq)  2 XCl(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l))